KLEM News PM Update August 9, 2010

SIOUX CITY)--Two Siouxland health care providers will NOT merge.

St. Luke's Regional Medical Center and Mercy Medical Center, both in Sioux City, announced late last year that they were studying how the two hospitals might better serve the community through more collaborative efforts.

Mercy and St. Luke's officials are now announcing they have not been able to identify a consolidation model that accomplishes their purposes.

A statement read, "while there are no current plans to resume talks of consolidation of operations, both parties are open to resuming their discussions and will continue to look for ways to provide health care services in the most cost efficient and high quality manner possible."

Their working arrangements with the June E. Nylen Cancer Center, Siouxland Paramedics, Hospice of Siouxland and Siouxland PACE will continue.

"Best" selections include NWC

(ORANGE CITY)--A new publication lists Northwestern College among the best colleges and universities in the Midwest. The Princeton Review selected the Orange City private college as one of 152 institutions it recommends in the 2011 "Best in the Midwest" section. The ranking is based on institutional data and the opinions of current students.

Princeton Review's senior vice president of publishing, Robert Franek, says the regional best colleges were selected primarily for their excellent academic programs. Review selected the Orange City private college as one of 152 institutions it recommends in the 2011 "Best in the Midwest" section. The ranking is based on institutional data and the opinion

Byers convicted in federal drug case

(SIOUX CITY)--A Sloan man who was accused of traveling between Monona County and South Sioux City to buy a drug to make meth has pleaded guilty.

The U-S Attorney's office reports 26-year-old Derek Earl Byers was convicted in federal court in Sioux City of conspiracy to make and distribute meth and possess pseudoephedrine with intent to make meth. Byers also pleaded guilty to traveling in interstate commerce to facilitate the manufacture and distribution of controlled substances.

He was accused of drug crimes between January and July of last year.

Byers is being held for the U-S Marshal's Service until he is sentenced.

Bivens' body found in Storm Lake Thursday

(STORM LAKE)--The cause of death for a Storm Lake man whose body was found floating in Storm Lake August 5th is still being investigated.

The Buena Vista County Sheriff's Office identified the man as 62-year-old Michael Steven Bivens of Storm Lake. Biven's dentity was determined with the assistance of the State Medical Examiner's office in Ankeny.

Preliminary information indicated foul play was NOT involved with Bivens' death.

Jurors aren't asked to report Tuesday

(LE MARS)--PLYMOUTH COUNTY JURORS DO NOT NEED TO REPORT FOR JURY DUTY ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 10TH. JURORS ARE ASKED TO CALL THE CLERK OF COURT'S OFFICE ON MONDAY, AUGUST 16TH AFTER 3 P-M TO FIND OUT WHETHER TO REPORT ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 17TH.

Ben Moyer with the National Weather Service says campers at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Park in Des Moines were evacuated early Monday when Four Mile Creek went out of its bank. There were no reports of injuries.

Moyer says storms developed over western Iowa and moved east, soaking the state with up to five inches of rain.

MidAmerican Energy reported over 10,000 customers without power early Monday, with nearly 5,000 in Des Moines.

U.S. Highway 69 east of Ames was closed because of water over the road. Strong winds damaged buildings and destroyed a grain bin in Fonda in northwest Iowa.

Iowa teen dies after falling off car

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) Officials say a teen died from injuries suffered when he fell off the trunk of a car at a mobile home park in Cedar Falls.

Police say 17-year-old Christopher McCully, of Evansdale, was injured Saturday evening. Police Chief Jeff Olson says he died on Sunday at University Hospitals in Iowa City.

Olson says McCully apparently sustained severe head injuries. Olson says the car wasn't going very fast at the time of the accident.

The incident remains under investigation.

Fire damages Iowa church

LUXEMBURG, Iowa (AP) Fire has damaged a church in northeast Iowa.

Authorities say firefighters were called to the Holy Trinity Church in Luxemburg around 2:30 a.m. Monday. Officials say lightning may have hit the steeple.

No injuries were reported. No other details were immediately available.

Luxemburg, which has about 250 residents, is 25 miles northeast of Dubuque.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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